Trump bypasses arms control pact to sell more large armed drones

[left-of-center2012]

President Trump this week signed a measure to allow U.S. defense contractors to bypass a 33-year-old arms treaty and sell more large armed drones to foreign militaries, a State Department official told reporters Friday.

The Trump administration has chosen to sidestep one part of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) — a 1987 agreement between 35 countries — to allow U.S. firms to sell the drones to foreign governments previously barred from buying them.

The White House, meanwhile, claimed in a Friday statement that the pact is outdated and gives “an unfair advantage to countries outside of the MTCR and hurt United States industry.”

U.S. defense companies have pushed for the change, as it would allow them to offer their products in markets currently claimed by Chinese and Israeli contractors.

(Who cares we signed a treaty - Selling death is good for U.S. business ?)

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/508981-trump-bypasses-arms-control-pact-to-sell-more-large-armed-drones-abroad

[edhopper]

1. He is noit sidestepping

he is violating the Law!

[Mike 03]

2. A little more from the article:

The move adds to the growing list of international treaties or deals that the United States has sidestepped or pulled out of during Trump's tenure, including the arms control pact between Russia and the United States known as the Open Skies Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal.

The administration also has yet to agree with Russia to renew the New START treaty, which is set to expire in February.